Counting clothes
Keeping inventory has been a tricky issue right from the first day. When we moved clothes from the production unit to the store for the inauguration last August, I only had a rough idea of how many clothes we had (what can I say, I was new to this)! At the production unit I would write down how many garments I wanted tailored in each size on a fabric inventory sheet, but then depending on the fabric consumption some garments would get left out or made in excess. So when I made my garment inventory list from the fabric inventory sheets, I was only in the ballpark range.
Finally, with some help, we graduated to a system where I print out a list for each collection, and each list contains the style names, and the number of garments made in each size by style. When new pieces come to the store, my sales staff adds it manually to the list and every couple of weeks when I take a new print out, I incorporate their additions. We also keep an inventory book that shows the total number of pieces in the store at any given point of time, and each day it shows the number added to the store (new stock) as well as the number subtracted (sales). To find out the number of pieces in the store by collection, I would have to go through each collection list and count the remaining stock.
Next week my summer 2008 collection comes into the store. This means that we will now have 5 collection lists to keep a track of and I can only image how counting by style is going to get more confusing and time consuming (I am thinking of having a sale in August for the 80 odd garments leftover from the first two collections though). The next 6 months are going to be hectic- I have a monsoon-winter collection to prepare, a website revamp by September, and hopefully an exhibition in Bangalore sometime in November. But early next year my goal is to have an easy computerized inventory system (just hope there is something more user friendly than Tally around) - any suggestions and ideas are welcome.
On a different note, below is a photo of the kurta that I designed from the shibori fabric I had talked about in an earlier blog post.
Finally, with some help, we graduated to a system where I print out a list for each collection, and each list contains the style names, and the number of garments made in each size by style. When new pieces come to the store, my sales staff adds it manually to the list and every couple of weeks when I take a new print out, I incorporate their additions. We also keep an inventory book that shows the total number of pieces in the store at any given point of time, and each day it shows the number added to the store (new stock) as well as the number subtracted (sales). To find out the number of pieces in the store by collection, I would have to go through each collection list and count the remaining stock.
Next week my summer 2008 collection comes into the store. This means that we will now have 5 collection lists to keep a track of and I can only image how counting by style is going to get more confusing and time consuming (I am thinking of having a sale in August for the 80 odd garments leftover from the first two collections though). The next 6 months are going to be hectic- I have a monsoon-winter collection to prepare, a website revamp by September, and hopefully an exhibition in Bangalore sometime in November. But early next year my goal is to have an easy computerized inventory system (just hope there is something more user friendly than Tally around) - any suggestions and ideas are welcome.
On a different note, below is a photo of the kurta that I designed from the shibori fabric I had talked about in an earlier blog post.
Labels: accounting, inventory, shibori
posted by Anaka at
10:01 AM
6 Comments:
hey, thanks for the link to your blog. I was a bit surprised to get the email because I haven't actually been to your store. My mom did (and I'm guessing she decided to be candid with my email address :p). Will drop in sometime.
If you have the budget, you should actually try a custom-made inventory system. There are a lot of guys who create those these days. We're trying to get one for our office to replace tally but we have about 10 systems to incorporate!
good luck with yours!
Love the exotic coupling of the model and mangoes and the way the succulent pinks and oranges of the fruit are reflected in the fabrics. Yum...all those limey-lime colors (like the Puli shirt) makes me nostalgic for gin-n-tonic cocktails and the kind of madras summer I barely had because I was too busy cowering from the heat. Ohh tender coconuts nestled in the hot sand besides the frangipani flowers, it's all making me very nostalgic. Brass Tacks clothes have always carried for me a sense of "home" coupled with a style that is well, lets say a little more glamorous than home. This collection delivers in a very BT way, the promise that fashion does not have to be flighty and excitment is alive at home. Kudos!
Nice shot! i like the total indian mat and the summer mangoes! very very nice! very inspired by your site i an going to start fabric dyeing and see if i can use those as a background for my illustrations. new posts will be up soon, have posted something now! i'm linking your blog to mine, hope that is ok with you :)
Hi Anju, Thanks for writing. I have heard both good and bad things about custom made softwares. In any case the costs would be too high for my company. I think I might end up at least trying Tally for a while... even though Tally's interface is like MS Dos!
And Friend, I'm happy you appreciate the photography! It did take a lot of planning and effort and I love the outcome!
JC- I'm so flattered! Thanks for linking my blog to yours and I never thought my work could be an inspiration to someone else and their creative work :)
Hello there, Lurve your new collection with its zesty colours! Been to Brass Tacks a few times (and then onto Shilpi :) ), I so enjoyed seeing your use of Indian fabrics in a contemporary way. Unfortunately for me, none of the tops seemed to fit! On behalf of us topheavy apple types, I'd like to request you to keep us in mind when you design your next collection. Picked up a skirt though, which has been worn to death.
Congrats once again on your new collection and excellent pics.
Hello anonymous, Sorry it has taken me so long to reply to you. I'm sorry you couldn't find a top that fit you well at my store, but I hope you know that I do alterations and we can also replicate a style in a larger size or a different measurement if we have extra fabric. Thanks for your feedback, will keep it in mind for sure.
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